Fresh satsumas directly from Germany? With your own small satsuma tree, this is possible and does not require much skill, space or materials.
Anyone considering buying a citrus tree should definitely consider the still relatively unknown Satsuma (Citrus reticula subsp. unshiu). draw. This is because satsumas differ from clementines and tangerines in that they are more cold-tolerant and the fruits are almost always seedless.
Satsuma: Origin and Characteristics
Satsuma probably comes from Japan, where, according to the latest findings, it emerged from a random crossing of two mandarin varieties and a backcross. Therefore, the former classification as a separate species (Citrus unshiu) is outdated. Today, satsumas are considered a variety of mandarine (Citrus reticula) and are grown in subtropical regions worldwide, with the largest growing area for satsumas still being Japan. But the fruits are now also imported from Spain, America and Africa.
The evergreen tree, which has almost no thorns, remains relatively low throughout its life. The maximum height of around 2 m is only reached after many years when growing in pots in our latitudes. The small, white flowers that appear in abundance in spring are particularly beautiful to look at. Relatively large, orange satsuma fruits develop from these, which are harvested from October. With satsumas, it can happen that the fruit is already ripe, even if the skin is still green. As the fruit ripens, the skin often separates slightly from the flesh.
Does Satsuma have seeds?
In the vast majority of cases, satsumas do not have seeds, since the fruit can also develop from unfertilized flowers. Very rarely it can happen that one finds a mostly light green nucleus in one of the segments.
What is the difference between satsumas and clementines?
At first glance, you usually don't see any difference between satsumas, tangerines andclementines. But just as there are many differences between clementines and tangerines upon closer inspection, so do satsumas stand out from the other two species. Unlike tangerines, for example, satsumas have no seeds. Satsumas differ from clementines in that they are slightly larger, sweeter and have a thinner skin. In addition, they often still have a green skin when they are ready to eat.
Planting Satsuma: Location and Procedure
Satsumas should only be cultivated in pots. They are relatively cold-tolerant for citrus fruits and can even tolerate short-term frost, but you shouldn't expect too much from them. When choosing the soil and location preferences, you can use the information on other citrus fruits as a guide. We go into more detail in our article with tips for planting clementines. Our peat-free Plantura organic universal soil, for example, is suitable as a substrate for your Satsuma, which you mix with a sixth each of sand and clay granules. If that is too time-consuming for you, you can use a high-quality citrus soil that meets these requirements. However, the disadvantage of ready-mixed citrus soil is that it often contains peat, which is harmful to the climate.
At a glance: Planting Satsuma
- Cultivation in pots in any well drained, moderately rich soil.
- Location warm, sunny, sheltered from the wind in summer and cool (5 to 10 °C) and bright in winter.
- You should repot your satsuma tree every 2 to 3 years, around April.
The right care
The many types of citrus also differ little when it comes to care. For helpful care tips, see our article on tangerine trees. In general, it can be said that a satsuma tree needs a lot of water, but does not tolerate waterlogging at all. Therefore, water regularly and sparingly and make sure that excess water can drain off easily.
Pruning of the satsuma is not absolutely necessary, but can be done in early spring, i.e. around March, to shape it.
Since satsumas are cultivated in pots, they depend on an external supply of nutrients. For example, our primarily organic Plantura organic citrus & Mediterranean fertilizer supplies your plants with everythingwhat you need. In addition to nitrogen and potassium, this also includes, for example, iron in a readily available form to prevent a deficiency in this micronutrient element. This is common in satsuma and other citrus plants.
Tip: Did you know that our citrus & Mediterranean fertilizer contains almost no phosphorus, even though it is an essential plant nutrient? This is because, for reasons of sustainability, we are involved in protecting the world's scarce phosphorus deposits. The phosphorus needs of your citrus crops are met via the substrate, which requires occasional repotting. In any case, this is good for your plants, because every substrate sags a little over time and then offers poorer growth conditions. Our compost soils are rich in phosphorus. If for some reason you are unable to repot your satsuma, we recommend using a phosphorous fertilizer such as our Plantura Organic Flower Fertilizer once a year.
Are Satsumas Hardy?
Even if they are relatively cold-tolerant for citrus trees and adult plants even tolerate short-term frost down to - 8 °C, satsumas are not hardy in our country. That's why you should bring your satsuma tree indoors during the cold season. In general, you can use the general procedure for overwintering lemon trees as a guide. The easiest way is to overwinter a satsuma tree in a light and cool place at around 10 °C. If the temperatures warm up again in spring, the Satsuma can go outside again from around May. But be careful, the young trees are still particularly susceptible to cold after they have wintered.
Harvest, Flavor and Ingredients
If you have your own satsuma tree, you can start harvesting the first fruits around October. But don't worry, even if the tree has been brought indoors, the fruits will still ripen, so that you can harvest almost the entire winter. The taste of the he althy satsuma fruits is reminiscent of tangerines. However, they are slightly larger and cuter. Nevertheless, satsumas only have a calorie content of 35 to 50 kcal per fruit.
When are satsumas in season? Satsumas are ready to harvest from late autumn. That means satsumas are in season from October if they come from the northern hemisphere.
A nectarine tree also brings southern flair to your garden. at oneIn a sunny, sheltered location, it can even be cultivated outside all year round in climatically favorable locations.